Now able to spend $400 on a Full size handgun.

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I looking mostly because i want to get in idpa but i would also like to just go shooting to
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If you're on such a tight budget then how are you going to afford to feed the beast? Good scores in matches only comes with lots of practice. And lots of practice will easily consumn more than the cost of the gun in a surprisingly short time span.

If you're on a tight monthly money flow carefully consider what it will cost to buy a gun AND to feed it with at least 200 rounds a month. I would consider this as the rock bottom minimum you can shoot and achieve a reasonable degree of skill. Most of us shoot far more than that amount.

And don't pass by on the use of a lowly .22 for much of this practice. Shooting a .22 isn't valid for some of the skills you need but it's very well suited to other portions of your skillset. For example, a .22 will aid you a lot in shooting without a flinch and about general hand and trigger control to shoot well. You can also work on your draw and accuracy of the first shot. And these two things are a big portion of what it takes to do well in either IDPA, IPSC or even in your everyday fun shooting. Not to mention that working up a good draw and first shot accuracy could prove useful at some point from a CCW perspective.

When you do get a 9mm gun it certainly does not need to be the most expensive one out there. But get one which has a good reputation for being able to shoot many thousands of rounds of ammo with no major wear issues. Such a gun may end up costing a little more or not. But either way a quality gun will last longer. This can make the more expensive option the cheaper one in the long run.

Myself? After trying a bunch of options I went with CZ. I simply prefer the feel and operation of a hammer fired gun and the all metal balance. And I believe that in much of the US you can find used CZ75's or 75b's for less than your $400 budget. But just make sure you can afford to feed whatever you get. CZ's, like S&W, Glock and Ruger, are also guns with a proven long lifespan for rounds down the pipe.

If the ammo budget is going to be iffy I'd suggest getting a quality .22 pistol for now and shoot more/learn more instead of worrying about the center fire gun for the time being.

Wanting to shoot in competitions means also joining a club. This could well work in your favour. Such clubs often have practice evenings or other sessions where if you want to shoot a .22, if that is what you get, you won't be turned away. And by getting to know the guys I would not be at all surprised if you don't get offers for use of their spare gun and mags if you can supply your own ammo for a match. The folks I've met in the shooting sport side of this hobby are VERY much like this and would be happy to help out someone that wants to join in but is living with a tight income.

What they would like and expect to see in return is someone that shows up at the matches and is keen to help out with setup and tear down, patching targets and scoring. That stuff doesn't do itself. If you can jump in and help with a smile on your face you will be amazed at how warmly you'll be recieved.

Anyway, just in closing I want to stress that those of us with a goodly amount of disposable income can afford to buy stuff on a whim. If you have a limited amount of monthly play money then you need to carefully consider a longer term plan. Even if it means less immediate gratification.

Either way, when you do finally get to shoot in some matches you are going to LOVE IT! The "run and gun" sports of IDPA and IPSC is what got me to finally get my firearms license. The rest of the "stand and shoot" stuff is OK. But the "run and gun" is where the real giggles are at.... :D
 
I would agree with those who said to get a 4" Ruger Security Six. Prices are going up on these but they are still almost criminally underpriced for what you get: a fast-handling, medium-frame, modular-designed .357 magnum which will likely last a lifetime. You should be able to find these under $400 without much trouble. A 4" .357 magnum is a good place to start getting into handguns because no matter how big your collection eventually gets, its versatility ensures that you will never outgrow it.
 
A .22 should be in your budget with a couple boxes of bulk ammo. You could shoot all day. If you don't want a .22 , a Ruger SR9c 9mm would be my choice.
 
I looking mostly because i want to get in idpa but i would also like to just go shooting to
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This is what he said he will be using it for.

That's the problem with asking a question like this. Everyone just lists their favorite gun.
Get out and shoot some. Rent a gun if you need to. Or better yet, go to a IDPA match and watch. Ask shooters what they are using and why. I know for a fact that if you came to my range just about everyone there would hand you their gun and a loaded mag so you could try their favorite gun out.

I shoot a G34 Gen 4 for IDPA. If the glock works for you a 19 or 17 would work just great for what you are looking for. I would think a striker fired gun would be a good place to start.

XD's are crap. ;-) lol I had to get my licks in.
 
coolluke01 said:
This is what he said he will be using it for.

That's the problem with asking a question like this. Everyone just lists their favorite gun.
Get out and shoot some. Rent a gun if you need to. Or better yet, go to a IDPA match and watch. Ask shooters what they are using and why. I know for a fact that if you came to my range just about everyone there would hand you their gun and a loaded mag so you could try their favorite gun out.

I shoot a G34 Gen 4 for IDPA. If the glock works for you a 19 or 17 would work just great for what you are looking for. I would think a striker fired gun would be a good place to start.

XD's are crap. ;-) lol I had to get my licks in.
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You just think xd's are crap because you don't know how to hold them right. Glock an M&P people have trouble with XD's all the time, they don't realize you actually have to hold the grip at waist level in order to get a proper sight picture lol sky-scraper bore axis.



/M&P owner :D

:p
 
As someone else said, the question is too general. I have several pistols, with my all time favorite the Springfield 1911 that I got for a song. However, my last acquisition was a Walther P99, and if you're looking for a modern platform, check this one out.

KKKKFL
 
Everything BCRider said here is 100% true.

In your case I'd tell you to go find a local place that hosts IDPA matches. Find them, maybe call the match director ahead of time, and go show up to help set the match up. It's a lot of manual labor hauling the targets and steel around.

Once you're there use your social skills to make some friends. Tell them you're new and looking to get into the sport. Someone there will take you under their wing and things will just take off from there. Then you won't need to come ask us such open-ended questions. Several people will offer to let you shoot what they brought, and you'll have the opportunity to make up your mind on your own.
 
Ruger SR40, shoots like a dream, reasonable price right in your budget, and famous ruger customer service to boot.
 
If you don't have to have have NEW, then $400 will give you some options...

If you are willing to consider surplus pistols, then $400 is a fortune.
 
Lots of options for $400.00. As have been noted above Ruger P345, SA XD9, police trade in Glocks, K-frame Smiths, Ruger Security Six all make great guns for HD and IDPA,plinking,etc. Pick the one you want and you'll be happy for a very long time. tom.:)
 
Sig SP2022 (9mm or .40) - Can be had for under $400 shipped.
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I second that.
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In that price range my pick would be the Sig 2022 in 9mm !
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Seems like lots of love for the oft-overlooked SP2022.

Palmetto State Armory has the SIG SP2022 9mm for $349 and free shipping right now. So find a dealer that doesn't charge much for the FFL transfer and you are golden.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/firearms/handguns/sig-sauer-sp2022-pro-9mm.html
 
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+1 on the Sig 2022. I've carried and shot a 2340 (basically the same thing with an inferior rail) since they first came out. It's perfect size and weight to carry and more accurate than it should be.
 
If you are stuck on getting a centerfire, and you can afford the practice ammo, whether you're buying factory or reloading, get a 9mm or .38 to start with. S&W model 10, police trade in revolvers can be had for under $300. Truth be told, you'll never *need* another defense pistol, if you can shoot one of those.

Other things, like the S&W SW9VE, can be had for under $400 new. I bought one in .40 for $200 a couple of weeks ago, and it is a surprisingly nice gun for the price - I would put it on par with much more expensive weapons.

So. There are guns to be had in your price range. The question is really, do you know what you like? And, can you afford the ammo? If you can't, get a Ruger MKII or MKIII .22 semiauto, and shoot lots of .22LR. You will be a good shooter in short order if you take the study of your .22 pistol seriously. You will be able to afford to shoot more in a month with a .22 than you can probably afford in a year on a limited budget, and it is bullets that make a marksman.

There are reasons people keep saying the same things - they are truth.
 
If you don't mind something a little different, how about a Steyr M9-A1? Cabela's and a couple of other retailers have been selling the M9s imported by PW Arms (now imported by Steyr America instead) for $399 with two 15-round mags. I say "different" because of what I consider a fairly unique grip and more so due to the trapezoidal sights. In any case, I have roughly 700-800 rounds through mine and am extremely pleased with it. A buddy of mine who shoots competitively and has a lot of higher-priced hardware has fire a few mags of reloads through it and gets amazing groupings with it despite never having used trapezoidal sights before. Other than a grand total of two FTEs and two FTFs during the break-in period (~500 rounds) it has been problem-free. It likes the cheap Aguila 124gr FMJ ammo, which is just fine with me.
 
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